What should I do when I leave the courthouse?

Review the protective order before you leave the courthouse. If something is wrong or missing, you might be able to ask the clerk how to get it corrected. Here are some things that you may want to do when leaving the courthouse:

Keep a copy of the protective order with you at all times.

Leave copies of the order at your workplace, at your home, at the children’s school or daycare, in your car, with a sympathetic neighbor, and so on.

Give a copy to the security guard or person at the front desk where you live and/or work along with a photo of the abuser.

Give a copy of the order to anyone who is named in and protected by the order.

If the court has not given you an extra copy for your local law enforcement agency, you may want to take one of your extra copies and deliver it to them.

You may wish to consider changing your locks and your phone number if permitted by law.

Be aware of your safety while leaving the courthouse. If you are concerned that the abuser may try to approach you, contact a court officer to see if you can be accompanied to your car.

Ongoing safety planning is important after receiving the protective order. People can do a number of things to increase their safety during violent incidents, when preparing to leave an abusive relationship, and when they are at home, work, and school. Many abusers obey protective orders, but some do not and it is important to build on the things you have already been doing to keep yourself safe. View our Safety Tips page for some suggestions. Advocates at local resource centers can assist you in designing a safety plan and can provide other forms of support. For a list of domestic violence organizations, see our LA Advocates and Shelters page.

I was not granted a protective order. What are my options?

If you are not granted a protective order, there are still some things you can do to stay safe. It might be a good idea to contact one of the domestic violence resource centers in your area to get help, support, and advice on how to stay safe. They can help you develop a safety plan and help connect you with the resources you need. For safety planning help, ideas, and information, go to our Safety Tips page. You will find a list of Louisiana resources on our LA Advocates and Shelters page.

You may also be able to reapply for a protective order if a new incident of domestic abuse occurs after you are denied the order.

If you believe the judge made an error of law, you can talk to someone at a domestic violence organization or a lawyer about the possibility of an appeal. Generally, appeals are complicated and you will most likely need the help of a lawyer. See our Filing Appeals page for basic information on appeals.

What is the Louisiana Protective Order Registry?

The Louisiana Protective Order Registry (LPOR) was set up by the Supreme Court of Louisiana for the purpose of enhancing court-ordered protections for victims of domestic abuse, dating violence, stalking, and sexual assault (and their children), and to aid law enforcement, prosecutors, and the courts in handling cases involving intimate partner violence. The LPOR is a database of court orders, including:

What can I do if the abuser violates the order?

Through the Police or Sheriff (Criminal): If the abuser violates the protective order, you can call 911 immediately. The law says that if a law enforcement officer has reason to believe that a family or household member or dating partner has been abused in violation of a temporary or final restraining order/protective order, the officer is supposed to immediately arrest the abuser.1 It is also considered a violation of protective order if the abuser has a firearm in his/her possession or if s/he is carrying a concealed weapon in violation of the law that prohibits firearm possession when certain long-term orders are in effect.2

Make sure a police report is filled out, even if no arrest is made. (If no arrest is made, you may still be able to file a criminal complaint against the abuser.) If you have legal documentation of all violations of the order, it may help you have the order extended or modified. It is a good idea to write down the name of the responding officer(s) and their badge number in case you want to follow up on your case.

If the abuser is arrested, and found guilty of a violation, s/he can be forced to pay a fine and/or go to jail. The penalties can vary, depending on whether or not it is his/her first conviction for violation of a protective order or not. The penalty increases for a second (or third, fourth, etc.) conviction as well as the penalty can be more severe if the violation involves battery or any crime of violence.3 To read about the penalties, go to our Selected Louisiana Statutes page.

Even if the police do not arrest at the scene, law enforcement officers are supposed to at least issue a summons to the abuser if there is probable cause that the order was violated.4

Through the Civil Court System (Civil): You may file for civil contempt for a violation of the order. The abuser can be held in “civil contempt” if s/he does anything that your protective order orders him/her not to do.5

How do I change or extend my protective order?

If you wish to change the terms of the order, a “Request to Modify” can be filed. A judge can modify a protective order to exclude any item included in the prior order, or to include any item that could have been included in the prior order.1

If you want to extend your protective order, you must apply for an extension (a motion to modify the order) before your original order expires. A judge can extend an order in the judge’s discretion. The abuser may file to modify the indefinite term of the protective over (if your order has an indefinite term) - if so, you should be notified of this hearing.2

What happens if I move?

If you move within Louisiana, your order will still be valid and good. It is a good idea to call the clerk to change your address. Read more about this on our Moving with a Protective Order page.

Additionally, the federal law provides what is called “Full Faith and Credit,” which means that once you have a criminal or civil protection order, it follows you wherever you go, including U.S. Territories and tribal lands. If you are moving to a new state, you may want to call the National Center on Protection Orders and Full Faith & Credit (1-800-903-0111 x 2) for information on enforcing your order in another state.

Note: For information on enforcing a military protective order (MPO) off the military installation, or enforcing a civil protection order (CPO) on a military installation, please see our Military Protective Orders page.